Canon S5

[Tuffcookie]

I did just that; upgraded(?) from the S2 to the S5. I think I got much better pictures with the S2 BUT I can video much longer with the S5.

TC

 

[LMarge]

I was also thinking of upgrading to the S5 for the higher ISO and sports mode. My dh, however, decided to make the choice for me and gave me the Xti with the kit lens and the zoom. Both are good for everyday shooting, but I really plan to add a fast zoom lens to my bag (soon!) The sports pics are much better with the Xti than anything I could get out of the S2 and with the noise issue of the S5 at the 1600 iso, it made sense to go ahead with the dslr decision. Good luck in your choice - you may want to watch the ads - there's a new Canon dslr coming out soon, so the price on the Xti may drop a bit.

 

[MouseFaninQueue]

Thanks to everyone for their input.

But I think I have come to a decision.

I'm going to send the S2 away for repairs and see what Canon Canada has to say on a cost for fixing it.

In the meantime I am going to save my $$ to buy the new Pentax K200D DSLR when it comes out in March.

Again thnx to everyone for their input. It was really appreciated!!

 

[red1der1]

How well does this camera take pictures at nightime or indoors with poor lighting??? I am looking to upgrade my tiny Kodak camera. It takes great pictures during the daytime, but takes terrible nightime pictures. I have no pics from any nightime parades in WDW cause my camera just plain stinks. From dusk on, it's useless. I have been doing some research and like what this camera has to offer. But I want to make sure this camera will give me what I am missing with my Kodak. Can those who have this camera give me some feedback and maybe share some pics to show me the quality.

Also, tell me about the battery life? I had an old digital that only took AA batteries and I said never again. If it doesn't come with a rechargable battery, I don't want it. This is the only thing making me holdoff on buying this camera. Can you give me some feedback.

Thanks!!!

 

[ukcatfan]

Unfortunately, you are not going to get very good low light performance from any p&s camera from any brand. It is because the image sensor is just too small to gather much light. Most have 1/2.5" sensors, but there are ones with larger 1/1.6" - 1/1.8" sensors that will do a little better. Some have had decent results from the Fujis with those larger sensors, but just do not expect too much.

Unless the size and hassle of a DSLR is too much for you, the prices of them are not much more for a basic package with the body and a basic lens. You do not get the zoom range of a superzoom p&s though without investing in other lenses.

Kevin

 

[red1der1]

Thanks so much for the info. I am not looking to have professional pics but a descent quality pic. There are some good P&S camera's out there that will take really good night time or low light pics. My DBF has a Canon SD750 and a Minolta DSLR. His P&S Canon takes awesome nightime pics. Even better then the DSLR. I am sure he could buy some type of lens or something to improve the quality of the SLR but why waste the money when his P&S camera takes great ones. The cost of the SLR would be too much for me plus just too bulky. I am looking to keep my cost under $400.00. This camera also has a much better zoom then your avaerage p&s. 12x optical. Most P&S are only 4-5x's. 12 is plenty for me.

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

The S5 is (marginally) better than just about all of the other superzooms with the exception of the Fuji S6000fd (which has the larger, high-ISO sensor in their compact F30 married to a superzoom), which is discontinued....

You will certainly need noise reduction software, to get rid of the grain ... but, the pictures will certainly stand for to 4"x6" prints. Canon takes a much lighter touch to in-camera noise reduction which leave more detail for PC software to work with....

Here's some good examples by Pea-n-me ... as you can see, these are pretty good for a P&S in the Haunted Mansion, Country Bears, etc...!

It doesn't hold a candle to a DSLR with a fast lens, but it's also less than $350, covers ranges of 28mm to 432mm AND has great video capabilities with stereo sound!

 

[ukcatfan]

I had a S1 and then a S2 and now a Pentax DSLR. I had no problems with low light shots with the Canons as long as the subject was not moving. Low light motion shots were very difficult until I got the DSLR. If you are going to take action shots like that, you might be disappointed with the S5. The Fuji mentioned would be a little better if you can even find one now. As for AAs, they are my favorite. A good set of NiMH ones should last at a minimum 350 shots, but likely more. I keep three sets around. One in, one spare, and one in the charger. Watch out for the 15 min chargers though. They wear the batteries out very fast.

Kevin

 

[jpeka65844]

So, I'm still exploring my S5 and realized that I can take audio! I LOVE hearing soundbites from around the park (the entrance music at Epcot, the opening narration from Illuminations, etc.....)

Does anyone use the sound recorder for this purpose? Any luck? What are some other not-to-miss sounds???

 

[hmerritt]

Looking to replace my G3 that died on our last trip and it's amazing how many differing reviews there are regarding the S5. For as many "i love this camera" reviews I've read, I've read just as many "quality is horrible" reviews. How can there be so many differing reviews on the same camera? At what point does the noise at high ISO really show-what size pics? I love to crop my pics, but never print out more than 4x6, maybe some 5x7 and rarely a 8x10.

Can anyone who has this camera share pics from Disney? I'd love to see. Or anyone who has an s3 or s5 share opinions. I've got to get a camera desperately and this is absolutely driving me crazy.

thanks-

Heather

 

[SrisonS]

I have an S3, and I Love It!!!! And 8x10's come out really good....if you find a nice place to print them from (i.e. mpix.com ). And you can look in my Photobucket for Disney Pictures I've taken. They're all from my S3. Oh yeah, I mainly use ISO 100, with the occasional ISO 80. Nothing higher though, because I'm afraid of noise. And I don't have any noise removal software....yet.

 

[AndrewWG]

Have you checked out this thread? It should answer all of your questions on S2, S3 and S5 cameras with probably some S1 pics thrown in!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1235546&page=99

 

[MomAndrea]

I tried to post in the thread dedicated to the S3 and S5 but for some reason it doesn't want to load for me this morning.

Here are a few of my first photos with the S5 that I got last week.

 

[hmerritt]

I am trying to decide whether to replace my G3 with an S5. Those turned out good- are they as sharp at 100%? And did you take those on auto?

thanks-
Heather

 

[MomAndrea]

Thanks . The pictures are very, very sharp. I took some on Auto and some on Portrait.

 

[Zane_Anthony]

I am looking to buy a new digital camera and I knew this is where the experience was so I am hoping someone can help. I have always just bought a "cheap" around $100.00 camera and just taken pictures. Not much thought to it or anything else. Now that my son is getting more active in sports
(football, soccer, and track) and we travel a lot more I am looking for a better quality camera. I orginally wanted to keep it under $200.00 but I have read some great reviews and seen great photos from the Cannon S5 (around $300). My question is will this camera work for me?

1. I don't have a lot of knowledge regarding cameras, the lingo, the settings, etc but i am willing to read the manual and try...will this camera be way to difficult for a beginner to operate?

2. Alot of my pictures will be of my son playing football, running track, etc so I will want something that has a good zoom and does well with movement...will this camera do that if i figure out the settings etc?

3. I don't want to have to carry around tons of extra "equipment" , will i have to with this camera?

If this doesn't seem to be the right camera for me does anyone have any other suggestions? I went to circut city but the guy working didn't seem to know anymore then I did.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Daysleeper40]

Hi,

I don't have the Canon S5 myself - but I know a lot of people here do and love it. Have a look at this thread for lots of examples of ppls pics with the S3 / S5 and discussions on using all the different features. I warn you - the thread is 104 pages long!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1235546

I think it sounds good for what you are looking for. I am also looking to buy a bridge camera (between P&S compact and a full blown DSLR) and am pretty much sold on teh Panasonic FZ18 - but there are lots of other options too like the Olympus SP-560 and loads of Fuji superzooms.

The top end bridge cameras all seem to get very similar reviews so it might be best to get a list together and then take yourself to a shop to get the feel of each.

 

[Frantasmic]

1. I don't have a lot of knowledge regarding cameras, the lingo, the settings, etc but i am willing to read the manual and try...will this camera be way to difficult for a beginner to operate?

I didn't either. I had other point and shoot cameras before I got my S5 last fall. I read the book, checked out some general photography books, and things make sense to me now. With the AUTO, sports mode, an the P (program mode), you can be shooting good pictures, especially in sunlight (see below) right out of the box (well, unless you buy rechargeable batteries with it and then you have to wait until they charge ).

2. Alot of my pictures will be of my son playing football, running track, etc so I will want something that has a good zoom and does well with movement...will this camera do that if i figure out the settings etc?

Most assuredly. This camera does VERY WELL in natural sunlight and football fields.

3. I don't want to have to carry around tons of extra "equipment" , will i have to with this camera?

The only extra equipment you might need is a filter or two and an external flash, if you do any indoor sporting events.

I'd recommend this one, but also look at the Olympus and Panasonic (maybe Pentex) camera with the 18x zoom. They also get very good reviews.

 

[cmp1111]

My DH bought us an S5 in Nov. for our anniversary. We love it.

The auto shooting modes really work well. The sports mode does fantastic on quick succession shots IF you don't need a flash. As someone else said, an external flash might help in indoor sports situations.

Movies turn out great, too.

We really do love it - and my DH who is not particularly photography savvy absolultely adores playing with all the settings. He's gotten some very "arty" shots that I wouldn't expect from a non-SLR camera.

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

My question is will this camera work for me?

Yes!

1. I don't have a lot of knowledge regarding cameras, the lingo, the settings, etc but i am willing to read the manual and try...will this camera be way to difficult for a beginner to operate?

Right out of the box, on Auto mode, the S5 takes excellent pictures in a range of conditions.

It also has a host of "scene modes" that will take good pictures without ever requiring you to delve into manual settings (though, that option remains, if you ever want it).

2. Alot of my pictures will be of my son playing football, running track, etc so I will want something that has a good zoom and does well with movement...will this camera do that if i figure out the settings etc?

These all sound like outdoor sports ... the S5 is *excellent* in anything close to good lighting conditions; excellent zoom range, fast Continuous mode and excellent movies.

It's only when things start to get dark (like dim gym lighting) that you have to get more into the manual settings to get good pictures or invest in some good Noise Reduction software.

3. I don't want to have to carry around tons of extra "equipment" , will i have to with this camera?

All you *really* need with this camera is a couple of sets of rechargeable batteries and a bag to keep it in. While you *can* get additional lenses, flash units, filters, etc ... you don't *need* any of them.